Mary Jane's Story

My name is Mary Jane and I am a single mother of an energetic six year old. I found Crittenton Women’s Union in 2008. The economy had just crashed, and I had been laid off from my job as a supervisor and soon after that I became homeless. My son was only 8 months old. I was scared and I needed help. I had always worked one or two jobs and was able to get by, but things were different now.

Our Voices

Every year approximately 1,400 people participate in Crittenton Women’s Union housing, education, career development, and family support programs. Each person brings a unique set of experiences, accomplishments, needs and challenges to his or her journey to economic self-sufficiency. In that journey, many find their voices for the first time. Together, they sound a powerful call for change.

Close to Home Project
Initiated in October 2013 with Michael Patrick MacDonald, the award-winning and NY Times best-selling author of All Souls: A Family Story from Southie and Easter Rising: A Memoir of Roots and Rebellion, the "Close to Home" project has been a cathartic and powerful exercise in crafting memoirs for social justice.

Our StoriesNobody knows their stories better than the people who live them. And nobody can tell them better. By sharing their stories, CWU program participants help others understand the challenges low-income women face and how they have learned to prevail.

Crittenton Women' Union transforms the lives of 1,400 people a year by creating opportunities for economic independence and self-sufficiency. Hear how Lechille, Mariya, and Ioland are finding ways to live, work, and thrive.